By Katy Sileo
The Gender Equity Unit is an organization located at the University of the Western Cape. The main focus of our programs is geared to continuously challenging gender inequalities, eliminate inequalities and to acknowledge and address diversity issues in the cause of social justice. The GEU monitors and reviews University policies and practices with regard to gender equity, advocates for women's rights on campus,engages in community outreach, and provides a safe space for students to organize around social issues. Some of my personal contributions to the GEU so far have been organizing, interviewing, and managing student volunteers. I also am organizing and participating in community outreach. Last week we visited Delft, a community in need, and provided basic necessities and medical treatment. After our community outreach to Delft, I am starting a fundraiser so that the GEU can go back to Delft and provide more aid. I also spoke as a guest lecturer in a Women and Gender Studies undergraduate class on Gender in a cross-cultural persepctive. We are currently planning a weekend retreat to train all of the University's "Gender Equity Officers" on gender sensitivity and awareness.
On Delft Outreach:
The Gender Equity Unit went with other organizations from the University of the Western Cape on Saturday March 3, 2008 to Delft, a South African community. The people of Delft have recently been forcefully evicted from unfinished governmental housing. Many of these people have been on a waiting list for housing for 20 years. We provided them with toiletries, as well as basic first aid. We spent the day talking to them and providing both physical and emotional support. The people were extremely welcoming and grateful for the support. It was an incredible experience.
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Dear Family and Friends,
I had the opportunity on Saturday to visit and provide support to people in need in Delft, a South African community, with my internship at the Gender Equity Unit. At this particular location in Delft, there are hundreds of homeless families facing hunger and sickness. They have recently been forcefully evicted from unfinished governmental houses that they have been promised, however many of them have been on the waiting list for 20 years. These people have very little and were so grateful for the few rolls of toilet paper and first aid we were able to provide them.
I'd like to ask all of you to help me in supporting the people of Delft with a donation, even something as small as $2.00 per person can make a difference. In the next two weeks, I'd like to ask you to collect whatever donations you can from family, friends, and coworkers. Forward this email to everyone you know or put out a collection jar at your office. Please make sure everything you collect gets back to
Diane Sileo
404 Broadwell Ave.
Union, NJ 07083
908-687-5991
By March 25th. Diane is my mother and will send me all proceeds. With all of your generous donations, I'd like to go back to Delft and provide them with further first aid and basic necessities.
Attached are pictures of those who will benefit from your generosity. Please email me with any further questions. Thank you all so much for your help, together we can really do something great!
Love,
Katy Sileo
katelyn.sileo@gmail.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/marita.mccomiskey/KatyLaraInDelftPhotosCourtesyThomasHelton?pli=1
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